Weather shield means for sliding doors

ABSTRACT

A weather guard of sheet form plastic in a shield assembly adapted to be detachably secured over a building opening, such as that for patio-type sliding doors, and to be supported in draped relation along the margin to shield against wind driven water so that it does not gain entrance around the edges of a door or a window assembly in the opening. The shield assembly includes a main drape section which is adapted to closely cover the outer side of the sliding door structure and, along the lower edge, a skirt is provided which flares outwardly away from the plane of closure to divert the water away from the threshold of the opening.

United States Patent Primary Examine -David J. Williamowslky AssistantExaminer-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-John Cyril Malloy ABSTRACT: A weatherguard of sheet form plastic in a shield assembly adapted to bedetachably secured over a building opening, such as that for patio-typesliding doors, and to be supported in draped relation along the marginto shield against wind driven water so that it does not gain entrancearound the ledges of a door or a window assembly in the opening. The

shield assembly includes a main drape section which is adapted toclosely cover the outer side of the sliding door 1 structure and, alongthe lower edge, a skirt is provided which flares outwardly away from theplane of closure to divert the water away from the threshold of theopening.

[72] lnventor Samuel]. Barr 1001 N. Washington Ave.,Titusvl1le, Fla.32780 [21] AppLNo. 875,736 r [22] Filed Nov. 12,1969 Patented Nov. 2,1971 [54] WEATHER SHIELD MEANS FOR SLIDING DOORS 13 Claims, 17 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S.C1 160/90, 160/368R [51] lnt.Cl. E0611 3/30 Fieldoisearch.49/57,61, 62; /368, 368 S, 369, 353, 89, 90, 91; 52/202, 203

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,585 6/1910 Rosenberg160/369 UX 1,705,132 3/1929 Norquist etal.. 160/369 UX 1,977,165 10/1934Williams 160/369 UX 2,067,639 1/1937 Lett V 160/89 PATENTEDNUV 2 IHYISHEET 30F 3 SAMUEL J. BARR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

WEATHER SIIIELD MEANS FOR SLIDING DOORS This invention relates to anauxiliary panel weather seal means for covering doors and windows inbuilding openings, it particularly pertains to a flexible sheet plasticauxiliary panel means for use in weatherproofing existing sliding doorand window installations during inclement weather, such as hurricanes.

In different geographical locations, inclement weather conditions maypresent a problem in sealing the marginal edges of sliding doorstructures against wind and water leakage. This problem is particularlysignificant in such areas experiencing hurricane weather or frequentstrong winds and blowing, driving rain. The typical sliding patio-typedoor installation includes one or more sliding door unit adapted forhorizontal bypassing movement to and from overlapping relation when thedoor units are operated. Track means at the top and bot tom of thesliding door units are provided for guiding the bidirectional movementof the door units and for maintaining the door units in correctalignment. The lower guide track member of a typical sliding doorinstallation includes holes formed in the door guide channels fordraining the rain water; however, in a hurricane or other such weatherdisturbance, the water impinges in torrents against the sliding doorstructure in such quantity that it is not drained away through theopenings. The excess rain water which is not drained away, is winddriven between the door edge portion and the lower guide track structureand passes into the interior of the building where it damages the walland floor structure and the furnishings of the building.

In the past, various storm panel structures or auxiliary panel meanshave been designed for temporary use in spanning a window or dooropening of a building, particularly during inclement weather. This isbecause, as may well be appreciated, a snug weathertight seal may notreadily be obtained along the upper and lower trackways of a slidingdoor unit without resulting in undue frictional resistance along thetrackway structures as the door unit is slidably manipulated. Such priorart structures have been of rigid members which present a problem ofdesign to facilitate ready passage through the opening when the shieldstructure is applied over a sliding door installation. Because of thisrigid panels are somewhat awkward and cumbersome to handle, install, andto prepare for storage which requires considerable space. Also, certainprior art storm guard structures are of complicated or intricate designand fabrication and require considerably manual dexterity and manualskill for layout of the constituent elements and assembly of them forinstallation.

A primary object of the instant invention is to provide a weather shieldassembly which may be readily applied on or removed from existingsliding door structure and to provide door shield structure adapted fortemporary use in inclement weather conditions and for use in preventingthe passage of wind and rain water through sliding door structure andinto the interior of a building.

A further object is to provide a weather shield assembly constructed insuch a manner as to be readily rolled into a compact form for handlingand storage purposes.

A further object is to provide weather shield means including passagewaymeans for permitting a user of the invention to gain access to theinterior or exterior of a building when the weather shield assembly isin an installed disposition over the sliding door structure of thebuilding without much difficulty.

A further object is to provide weather shield means of mechanicallysimple design and construction, which does not include complicated orintricate parts difficult to manipulate during the installation orremoval of the shield assembly from a building.

A further object is to provide a shield assembly of strong and durableconstruction and of design and fabrication permitting economicalmanufacturing and marketing.

A further object is to improve the design and construction of auxiliaryweather guard means for sliding door structures in buildings.

In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodimentthereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an environmental side elevational view of the weather shieldmeans of the instant invention illustrated in conjunction with thesliding door structure in a building;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal plane sectional] view taken along the line 2-2 inFIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal plane sectional view taken along the plane 3-3 in-,FIG. I and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a vertical plane sectional view as viewed along the line 4-4of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view as viewed along the line 5'-'-5 ofFIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. Iand looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, butillustrating a modified embodiment of the vertical stanchion elements ofthe weather shield assembly;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, butillustrating a modification of the longitudinal, i.e. the horizontal,stringer elements of the weather shield assembly;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 6, butillustrating a modification of the lower base portion of the weathershield apparatus in that the skirt and panel are coupled together alonga flexible zone;

FIG. 11 is another modification of the base portion of the weathershield apparatus;

FIG. 12 is still another modification of the base portion of the weathershield apparatus;

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the shield assemblyillustrating a vertical stanchion element detachably fastened to thevertical glass casing side member of a sliding door unit in a building;

FIG. 14 is a view further illustrating the shield attachment means ofFIG. 13, but showing the stanchion element removed from the glass casingside member of the sliding door unit;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. I3, but illustrating an alternateembodiment of the means attaching the weather shield assembly to thesliding door structure;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a weathertightplug unit and itsuse in plugging a latch aperture in the glass casingside member of the door unit when the shield assembly is removed fromthe door unit;

FIG. 17 is a front face view of the weathertight plug unit in aninstalled disposition on the glass casing side member of the slidingdoor unit.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings in which like reference characters designatelike or similar parts throughout the various views, the weather shieldmeans is designated generally by reference character 11 and is shown anddescribed in conjunction with sliding door structure I3, see FIG. 2,operably supported in a rectangular opening in the wall structure 15 ofa building. The sliding door structure illustrated includes glass paneldoor units 17, 19, 21 guidingly constrained in upper and lower trackways23, 25 in parallel relation by the wall and floor structure 15, 27 ofthe building. The rectangular opening of the building may be framed onopposite sides with frame structure 29. Although the weather shieldlmeans of the instant invention is described in conjunction with slidingdoor structure including three door units 17, 19, 21, it will, ofcourse, be appreciated that the weather shield mean-s may be designed orfabricated as weather guard means or sliding door installationsincluding two, four or more glass panel door units or in windowinstallations.

The preferred embodiment of the weather shield assembly is indicated bynumeral 31 and basically includes a drape'portion or main section 33 anda lower skirt portion or base portion 41. The main section 33 is agenerally planar main frame of horizontal stringer elements 35, verticalstanchion elements 37, spanned by a flexible plastic sheet structure 39overlaying the stringers and stanchions. The base section 41 or skirtincludes a plastic sheeting 43 and horizontal and vertical stay elements45, 47 supporting the flexible sheeting 43 in generally planarconfiguration. Means are provided permanently connecting the main andbase sections 33, 41 together, i.e. the drape portion and the skirtportion, and includes joint structure 49 rigidly interconnecting eachstay element 47 of base section 41 to a respective stanchion element 37of main section 33 of the weather shield assembly. The flexible plasticsheet structure 39, 43 respectively of the main and base sections 33, 41preferably is of one-piece form and preferably is integrally connectedat a longitudinally horizontally extending zone of juncture indicated bynumeral 51 (See FIGS. and 6).

The horizontally extending stringer elements 35 of main section 33 andthe horizontal stay elements 45 of weather shield assembly 31 preferablyare configured riblike and substantially integrally formed with theflexible plastic sheet structure 39, 43 respectively of the main andbase sections 33, 41. Each of the riblike longitudinally extendingstringer and stay elements 35, 45 preferably is formed by tightlyrolling the sheet plastic material and heat sealing or fusing thelaminatingly arranged roll portions of the sheet plastic materialtogether to form the longitudinally extending reinforcing riblikesupport structure of the main and base sections of the shield assembly.The horizontally extending stringer and stay elements 35, 45 aresuitably secured in the weather shield assembly as by screw fasteners53, 55 threadedly engaging respectively the vertically extendingstanchion and stay elements 37, (See FIG. 6).

Each stanchion element 37 of the shield assembly main section 33preferably is tubular and rectangular in cross section and preferably isprovided with a parallel pair on longitudinally extending splinereceiving channels 57 adapted to receive respectively a pair ofcompanionate members 59 formed of semiresilient material. The plasticsheet structure 39 of main section 33 is fastened against the outwardsurfaces 61 respectively of the stanchion elements 37 by portions of theplastic sheet material 39 being frictionally, interposedly anchoredbetween the spline and spline channel structures 59, 57 (See FIG. 3).The spline channel and spline member structures 57, 59 preferably extendthe full longitudinal extension of each stanchion 37 and support theplastic sheet structure 39 in a rectangular expanded disposition.

Each stanchion element 37 is adapted to be arranged in registry over oroutwardly of one of the respective glass panel casing side members 63,63 of the sliding door units 17, 19, 21 (See FIGS. 1-3 and 5). Thestanchions 37 are adapted to lie in face-to-face relation of the sidemembers 63, 63 of the glass panel door units 17, 19 when the doors areclosed.

The means for detachably attaching the weather shield assembly 31 overthe sliding door units 17, 19, 21 preferably includes a verticallyaligned series of apertures 65 formed respectively in the leftward andrightward glass casing side members 63, 63' of the respective slidingdoor units 17, 19, 21. A series of vertically aligned latch mechanisms67 are supported in intermittently spaced vertical alignment on eachstanchion 37, and each includes catch means adapted to detachably engagethe latch aperture structure 65 of the slid ing door casing side members63, 63'. Each latch mechanism 67 preferably includes a right angularbolt member 69 having a shank portion 71 and cam portion 73. The shankportion 71 freely turnably extends through aperture structure 75 formedin the respective stanchion elements 37 and with the cam portion 73being adapted to extend through a respective latch aperture 65 andengage the interior wall surface 77 of a respective tubular door casing63, 63 (See FIGS. 3 and 4).

A knob portion 81 formed on the outward end of bolt member 69 providesfinger grip means for bidirectionally turnably manipulating the boltmember 90 degrees leftward and rightward respectively for arranging eachlatch mechanism in an operative or inoperative configuration and forattaching or detaching the shield assembly from over the sliding doorstructure. A helical compression spring 83 preferably is convolutelyfitted around the shank portion 71 of each bolt member and interposedlytensioned between knob portion 81 and the outer surface 61 of arespective stanchion 37. The spring 83 urges cam portion 73 of theangular bolt member 69 against the interior wall surface 77 andclampingly secures a stanchion element 37 against the outer surface 85of a respective sliding door glass casing side member 63.

The vertically planar main section 33 of the weather shield assembly 31is substantially demarcated into three sections 33a, 33b, 330 by thevertical stanchion elements 37. The planar rectangular areas 33a, 33b,33c correspond with and are adapted to overlie respectively the glasspanel areas of the sliding door units 17, 19, 21 when the door units arein a closed, divergingly expanded configuration. The flexible plasticsheet structure 39 of the main section 33a preferably is provided withvertically extending slit structure providing a zipper or slidingclosure structure 87 for permitting a user of the weather shieldapparatus to gain access to the interior or exterior of the buildingwhen the weather shield is in an installed disposition. By verticalbidirectional manipulation of the finger grip tab 89 of the slidingclosure 87, a user may form a slit opening of sufficient size to permitthe user to pass through and gain access to the interior or exterior ofthe weather shield structure. In certain embodiments of the invention,it may be desirably to utilize a zipper-type closure or a series ofsnap-acting buttons (not shown) in lieu of the sliding closure structureillustrated.

Although the vertically planar main section 33 of the weather shieldassembly 31 is shown and described as extending the full height of thesliding door structure and as being configured to fully cover the doorunits 17, 19, 21, it is contemplated that, because the rain slants infrom above, the full height may not be required, so in certainembodiments of the invention, the weather shield assembly may beconfigured to extend upwardly less than the full height of the doorstructure.

To install the weather shield assembly 31 over the sliding door units17, 19, 21, the user has only to position the main section 33 of theweather shield structure over the sliding glass door units and latch theassembly in place by turnably manipulating the latch mechanisms 67. Thecam portion 73 of each latch bolt 69 is inserted through a respectiveelongated latch aperture 65 and is turned transversely of the apertureto latch the cam portion and secure the latch mechanism in an operativeconfiguration. The weather shield assembly may be removed from the doorstructure by turnably manipulating each latch assembly 67 to anunlatched disposition. By virtue of the flexibility of horizontalstringer and stay elements 35, 47, the weather shield assembly 31 may berolled up along its longitudinal extension for storage purposes.

The modification of the vertical stanchion shown in H0. 7 is indicatedby character 37a, and includes primary and secondary stanchion sections37a, 37a" arranged on opposite sides of plastic sheeting 39a andclampingly secured together by screw fasteners 40a. The matinglyarranged configuration of the primary and secondary stanchion sections37a, 37a" provide duel function in providing substantially rigidvertical support structure for the main section of the weather shieldmeans and also provides means for fastening the plastic sheet means 390to the vertical stanchion structure. The shank portion 710 of latchmechanism 67a extends through aligned apertures 75a, 75a" formedrespectively in the primary and secondary sections 37a, 37a" andturnably support bolt member 69a for engagement and disengagement of camportion 730 with the outer sidewall structure of a glass casing sidemember 63a.

A modification of the longitudinally extending stay elements 45 of thebase section of the weather shield assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 8and 9 and designated by character 45b. A fastening tongue portion 55b,preferably struck from the upper wall portion of vertical stay element47b defines the fastening means for securing the horizontal stayelements 45b on vertical stays 47b; tongue 55!) is bent over stayelement 45b to clampingly secure the stay element on vertical stay 47b.Each horizontally extending stay element 45b includes a longitudinallyextending helical tension spring 46b coaxially fitted in the interior ofa tubular casing 48b preferably integrally formed with the base sectionplastic sheet structure 43b. If desired, the horizontally extendingstringer elements (35) of each main section 33 may likewise be formedwith helical tension spring reinforcing means and may be attached to thevertical stanchion elements by tongue fastening means corresponding withthe fastening means of base section 41b, of the shield assembly.

The modification of the shield assembly illustrated in FIG. it) isindicated by character 31c and includes a main section includinghorizontally extending stringer elements 350, vertical stanchionelements 370, plastic sheet means 39c, lathlike strip elements 570 andfastening screw means 590 clampingly securing sheet structure 390 alongthe vertical stanchions 370. The base section of shield assembly 310includes plastic sheet structure Me, horizontal and vertical stayelements 45c, 47c, lathlike strip elements 540 and threaded fasteners56c simultaneously clampingly securing the plastic sheet structure 430on vertical stay elements 47c and securing the horizontal and verticalstay elements 45c, 47c together in perpendicular relation. The plasticsheet structure 390, 43c, respectively of the main and base sections ofshieldassembly 31c preferably is of integral form and defines flexiblehinge joint means hingedly connecting the main and base sectionstogether along a longitudinally extending zone of juncture 51c. Aplurality of finger-operative latch units 67c, supported on stringerelements 37c coactingly engage latch aperture structure 65c of thesliding doorcasing 63c and provide means for detachably securing shieldassembly 310 to the sliding door structure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a modified shield assembly 31d having a main sectionincluding stringer and stanchion elements 35d, 37d, lath strip and screwfasteners 57d, 59d; a base section including horizontal and verticalstay elements 45d, 45d; 47d, lath strip and screw fastener means 54d,56d; and includes pin means 49d pivotally connecting the verticalstanchion and stay elements 37d, 47d and hingedly connecting the mainand base sections together along a longitudinally extending line ofjuncture indicated 51d. The plastic sheet structure 39d, 43drespectively of the main and base sections of shield assembly 51:!preferably is of one-piece form and defines fluid impervious sheetplastic structure extending along the hinge axis of pin means 49d. Thehorizontally extending stay element 450" of shield assembly 31dpreferably is integrally formed with the base section plastic sheetstructure 43d and is in the form of a beadlike enlargement extendingalong the lower marginal edge of the shield assembly base section.Finger operative latch means, 67d clampingly secure each stanchionelement 37d on a respective side casing member 63d of the sliding doorstructure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a shield assembly 312 including a main sectionincluding stringer and stanchion elements 352, 37c and sheet plasticstructure 43e and longitudinally extending stay elements 45c. Theembodiment includes latch means 67a detachably securing stanchionelements 37c on the sliding door casing structure 632. The plastic sheetmeans 39c, 43e preferably of integral form and defines a fluidimpervious line of juncture Sle extending longitudinally of the shieldassembly. The base section of shield assembly 31:: preferably isprovided only with longitudinally extending horizontal stay elements 452and is in the form of flexible flap means adapted to closely overlie thelower trackway and floor structure 25c, 27c. The longitudinallyextending stay elements 45a each are preferably integrally formed withthe base section plastic sheet structure tl3e; the lowermost one of stayelements 45c defines substantially a beadlike margin extendinglongitudinally along the n edge of the shield assembly sheet structure43c.

The embodiments of the shield assembly illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and12 each is preferably provided with brace means for maintaining the baseand main sections substantially in fixed relative relation when therespective shield assembly is in an installed disposition over thesliding door structure of a building. FIG. 10 illustrates a brace member910 obliquely arranged between the main and base sections of the shieldassembly. The lower end portion of brace member 91c abuttingly engageshorizontal stay element 45c; the upper end portion of brace member 910engages an angle member 93c supported by screw means 950 on the lowerportion of vertical stanchion 37c. Brace members 910 maintain the loweredge portion of base section Me in snug engagement with floor 27c andprovides means for preventing the passage of wind and water under thebase section of the shield assembly. The broken line showing of the basesection did in FIG. 11 illustrates the base section in an outwardlypivoted disposition; the base section of each embodiment illustratedrespectively in FIGS. 10, Ill and 12 may be tumed outwardly in coplanarrelation with the main section for permitting a respective shieldassembly to be rolled up to a compact configuration for storagepurposes.

An alternate manner for attaching the weather shield assembly over thesliding door structure is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, andillustrates a shield assembly 31f detachably secured to a door casingside member 63 of sliding door structure 13]. Each stanchion 37] ofshield assembly 31f is provided with a vertical series of tonguelikecatch elements 73f, cantilever supported on the inward! side ofstanchion 37f and disposed substantially in a plane lying contiguous toand parallel with the inward side surface 77) of the stanchion. Thevertically arranged series of catch element 73f of each stanchion 37 isadapted to engage a corresponding coacting vertically arranged series oflatch apertures 65] formed in the outer wall structure of a respectiveglass casing side member 63f. Each catch element 73f may be struck formthe stanchion wall structure 78] and includes a horizontal proximalportion 72f and a downwardly projecting distal portion 74f. The weathershield assembly 31f is adapted to be attached to the sliding doorstructure by detachably securing each stanchion 37f to a respective doorcasing 63f: The stanchion is first aligned with the casing member andthe series of catch elements 73f of the stanchion are simultaneouslyinserted in the series of latch apertures 65f of the door casing andthen the stanchion is pressed downwardly to latch the distal portions74f of the vertical series of catch elements with the vertical series oflatch aperture structures 65f. When the weather shield assembly 31f isin an installed disposition, the distal edge portion 44f of the basesection 41 f engages the floor surface 28f and prevents passage of windand rain water under the sliding door structure.

FIG. 15 illustrates another manner of attaching a weather shieldassembly over sliding door structure. A shield assembly 31g is adaptedto be detachably secured to the door structure by a plurality of catchmembers 73g inserted through respective stanchions 37g and frictionallyanchored in respective door casing structure 63g. Each catch member 73gincludes a shank portion 72g adapted to extend through a respectivestanchion 37g. Each catch member 73g includes a flat head portion 743and a pointed anchor portion 763 arranged respectively on the oppositeend portions of the shank 72g. Each catch member 73g is adapted to beinserted through an aperture 75g formed in a stanchion 37g and to securethe stanchion to a respective door casing element 63g with the headportion 74g engaging the outside of the stanchion and with the anchorportion 763 of the catch member being frictionally anchored in arespective catch aperture 65g formed in door casing 633. Each catchmember 73g preferably is formed of semiresilient plastic material sothat anchor portion 763 of each catch member firmly frictionally engagesrespective catch apertures 653. In the installing of shield assembly 313over the sliding door structure, the installer inserts the plurality ofcatch members 73 g through the respective stanchion openings 75g andpresses or drives each catch member inwardly and into a respective catchaperture 653. The weather shield assembly may be'removed from over thedoor structure by prying or pulling each member from a respectiveaperture 65g and removing the plurality of catch members from thestanchions.

The weather shield means of the instant invention also preferablyincludes a plurality of plug members 97 adapted to be removably receivedrespectively in the plurality of latch apertures 65 formed in thesliding door casing structure 63 and when a respective weather shieldassembly is removed from over the sliding door structure. (See FIGS. 16and 17.) Each plug member 67 preferably is formed of semiresilientmaterial and includes a flattened head portion 99 and an anchor portion101. Each plug member 97 is adapted to be inserted in a respectiveaperture 65. The anchor portion 101 is adapted to be inserted through arespective aperture 65 and with the head portion sealingly engaging theoutside surface of the door casing structure. Inserting the plug members97 into the apertures 65 enhances the appearance of the door casing andprevents entry of wind and water into the interior of the sliding doorstructure.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatis conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in combination with a building construction having slidingdoor structure slidably operably supported in a rectangular opening inthe building and including at least two glass panel door units with atleast one of said door units being bidirectionally, horizontallyslidable to and from overlapping relation with the other of said doorunits and with each door unit including casing structure including avertical leftward and rightward arranged side glass casing memberembracing opposite side edges of a glass panel;

weather shield means adapted for use with the sliding door structure inthe building comprising,

a weather shield assembly, and

means to attach said shield assembly over the outer side of the slidingdoor structure and respectively to the leftward and rightward arrangedside frame members of said glass panel door units,

said shield assembly including a main drape section including generallyplanar openwork support structure including a plurality of verticalstanchion elements, a plurality of horizontal stringer elements, andfastening means substantially permanently fastening said stanchion andstringer elements together in generally coplanar frame relation and withsaid vertical stanchion elements being substantially in spacialdisposition corresponding with the spacial disposition of said leftwardand rightward arranged vertical side casing members when said slidingdoor units are in a normal closed relation, and wherein said mainsection includes flexible sheet plastic means, and fastening meansfastening said sheet means to said main support structure spanning thearea enclosed by the periphery of said main support structure;

said shield assembly also including a base skirt section including thinflexible sheet means configured generally long narrow rectangular anddisposed longitudinally horizontal and transversely oblique, andincluding stay means engaging the thin flexible sheet means of said basesection and reinforcing and maintaining said base section sheet meansgenerally in expanded configuration; and

including means connecting said base skirt section to said main drapesection along a zone of juncture..at the lower margin of said mainsection and along the upper margin of said base section and with saidzone being fluid impervious.

2. Weather shield means as set forthin claim 1 wherein said means toattach said weather shield assembly over the outer side of said slidingdoor structure includes means to secure said shield assembly supportstructure to the casing structure of each sliding door unit.

3. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means toattach said shield assembly over the outer side of said sliding doorstructure wherein said casing structure has a plurality of latchapertures arranged on the outer side of the casing vertical side membersof the sliding door units, and I said shield assembly includes aplurality of latch means arranged respectively on the vertical stanchionelements of the main section support structure of said weather shieldassembly; said plurality of latch apertures and latch means being inrelative arrangement and adapted for coacting disengagement engagementrespectively for detaching or attaching said shield assembly over thesliding door structure.

4. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pluralityof latch means each includes a generally right angular latch bolt memberhaving a shank portion and a cam portion and including means defining athrough aperture in a respective stanchion element of said weathershield assembly and turnably supporting the shank portion of said boltmember on an axis lying generally horizontal and perpendicular to theinward side of said stanchion element and with said cam portion being ina plane lying contiguous to and parallel with the inward side of saidstanchion element, spring means urging said cam portion toward theinward side of said stanchion element and finger grip leverage meansarranged on the outward side of said stanchion member for turnablymanipulating said bolt member. r

5. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein each latch catchmeans includes a tonguelike catch element cantilever supported on theinward side of a respective vertical stanchion element and disposedgenerally in a plane lying contiguous to and parallel with the inwardside surface of said stanchion element, said plurality of latch catchmeans being intermittently disposed in vertical alignment along arespective stanchion element and being adapted to simultaneously engagea plurality of latch apertures formed in a respective sliding doorcasing vertical side member.

6. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein each latch catchmeans of said plurality of latch catch means includes means defining ahorizontal catch aperture in a respective stanchion element incorresponding horizontal alignment with a respective latch apertureformed in a door casing vertical side member, and includes a detachablecatch member including a substantially slender shank portion and headand anchor portions integrally supported on opposite end portions ofsaid shank portion, said anchor portion being sized to snuglyfrictionally engage said latch aperture, said weather shield assemblybeing adapted to be attached over said sliding door structure by eachcatch member being inserted through a respective catch aperture with thehead portion thereof engaging the outerside of a respective stanchionmember and with the anchor portion being frictionally detachably fittedin a respective latch aperture of a respective door casing vertical sidemember.

7. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexiblesheet means includes at least one thin flexible plastic sheet panel andwherein each vertical stanchion element of said weather shield assemblymain section is hollow, tubular and rectangular in cross section, havingparallel-arranged inward and outward surfaces and wherein said meansfastening said main section plastic sheet means to each said verticalstanchion includes at least one long slender spline member and structurein said vertical stanchion element defining a long slender splinechannel extending longitudinally along the outward side surface of saidvertical stanchion and adapted to coactingly receive said spline member,a portion of said sheet plastic panel being interposedly frictionallyanchored between said spline channel structure and said spline memberthereby defining means firmly fastening said sheet plastic panel on saidstanchion element.

8. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexiblesheet means of the main section of said shield assembly includes atleast one thin flexible sheet panel and wherein the means fastening saidmain section sheet panel to each vertical stanchion element includesmeans extending out of the surface of the panel and captivated in saidmain section, primary and secondary lathlike stanchion sections arrangedvertically on opposite sides of said thin flexible sheet panel andincludes threaded fastener means interengaging said primary andsecondary stanchion sections and clampingly securing said plastic sheetstructure between said primary and secondary stanchion sections.

9. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said horizontalstringer elements of the main section support structure of said shieldassembly is generally of riblike configuration and is substantiallyintegrally formed with the flexible sheet means of said main section.

10. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stay meansof said base section includes generally rigid vertical stay elementsextending transversely of said base section and wherein said meansconnecting said base and main sections includes joint means hingedlyconnecting each base section vertical stay element at its upper portionwith the lower terminal portion of a respective stanchion element, andwith the hinge axis extending parallel with and generally along thelower edge of said main section.

11. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flexiblesheet means of said main and base sections of said weather shieldassembly are of integrall form and wherein part of said flexible sheetmeans extending longitudinally and interposedly between said base andmain sections defines flexible joint means hingedly connecting the baseand main sections together.

12. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 10 which additionallyincludes brace means for maintaining said main and base sections insubstantially fixed relative relation.

13. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexiblesheet means of said main. and base sections are substantially ofintegral form and wherein said stay means of said base section generallyis in the form only of a plurality of longitudinally extendinghorizontal stay elements.

1. For use in combination with a building construction having slidingdoor structure slidably operably supported in a rectangular opening inthe building and including at least two glass panel door units with atleast one of said door units being bidirectionally, horizontallyslidable to and from overlapping relation with the other of said doorunits and with each door unit including casing structure including avertical leftward and rightward arranged side glass casing memberembracing opposite side edges of a glass panel; weather shield meansadapted for use with the sliding door structure in the buildingcomprising, a weather shield assembly, and means to attach said shieldassembly over the outer side of the sliding door structure andrespectively to the leftward and rightward arranged side frame membersof said glass panel door units, said shield assembly including a maindrape section including generally planar openwork support structureincluding a plurality of vertical stanchion elements, a plurality ofhorizontal stringer elements, and fastening means substantiallypermanently fastening said stanchion and stringer elements together ingenerally coplanar frame relation and with said vertical stanchionelements being substantially in spacial disposition corresponding withthe spacial disposition of said leftward and rightward arranged verticalside casing members when said sliding door units are in a normal closedrelation, and wherein said main section includes flexible sheet plasticmeans, and fastening means fastening said sheet means to said mainsupport structure spanning the area enclosed by the periphery of saidmain support structure; said shield assembly also including a base skirtsection including thin flexible sheet means configured generally longnarrow rectangular and disposed longitudinally horizontal andtransversely oblique, and including stay means engaging the thinflexible sheet means of said base section and reinforcing andmaintaining said base section sheet means generally in expandedconfiguration; and including means connecting said base skirt section tosaid main drape section along a zone of juncture at the lower margin ofsaid main section and along the upper margin of said base section andwith said zone being fluid impervious.
 2. Weather shield means as setforth in claim 1 wherein said means to attach said weather shieldassembly over the outer side of said sliding door structurE includesmeans to secure said shield assembly support structure to the casingstructure of each sliding door unit.
 3. Weather shield means as setforth in claim 2 wherein said means to attach said shield assembly overthe outer side of said sliding door structure wherein said casingstructure has a plurality of latch apertures arranged on the outer sideof the casing vertical side members of the sliding door units, and saidshield assembly includes a plurality of latch means arrangedrespectively on the vertical stanchion elements of the main sectionsupport structure of said weather shield assembly; said plurality oflatch apertures and latch means being in relative arrangement andadapted for coacting disengagement engagement respectively for detachingor attaching said shield assembly over the sliding door structure. 4.Weather shield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality oflatch means each includes a generally right angular latch bolt memberhaving a shank portion and a cam portion and including means defining athrough aperture in a respective stanchion element of said weathershield assembly and turnably supporting the shank portion of said boltmember on an axis lying generally horizontal and perpendicular to theinward side of said stanchion element and with said cam portion being ina plane lying contiguous to and parallel with the inward side of saidstanchion element, spring means urging said cam portion toward theinward side of said stanchion element and finger grip leverage meansarranged on the outward side of said stanchion member for turnablymanipulating said bolt member.
 5. Weather shield means as set forth inclaim 3 wherein each latch catch means includes a tonguelike catchelement cantilever supported on the inward side of a respective verticalstanchion element and disposed generally in a plane lying contiguous toand parallel with the inward side surface of said stanchion element,said plurality of latch catch means being intermittently disposed invertical alignment along a respective stanchion element and beingadapted to simultaneously engage a plurality of latch apertures formedin a respective sliding door casing vertical side member.
 6. Weathershield means as set forth in claim 3 wherein each latch catch means ofsaid plurality of latch catch means includes means defining a horizontalcatch aperture in a respective stanchion element in correspondinghorizontal alignment with a respective latch aperture formed in a doorcasing vertical side member, and includes a detachable catch memberincluding a substantially slender shank portion and head and anchorportions integrally supported on opposite end portions of said shankportion, said anchor portion being sized to snugly frictionally engagesaid latch aperture, said weather shield assembly being adapted to beattached over said sliding door structure by each catch member beinginserted through a respective catch aperture with the head portionthereof engaging the outerside of a respective stanchion member and withthe anchor portion being frictionally detachably fitted in a respectivelatch aperture of a respective door casing vertical side member. 7.Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheetmeans includes at least one thin flexible plastic sheet panel andwherein each vertical stanchion element of said weather shield assemblymain section is hollow, tubular and rectangular in cross section, havingparallel-arranged inward and outward surfaces and wherein said meansfastening said main section plastic sheet means to each said verticalstanchion includes at least one long slender spline member and structurein said vertical stanchion element defining a long slender splinechannel extending longitudinally along the outward side surface of saidvertical stanchion and adapted to coactingly receive said spline member,a portion of said sheet plastic panel being interposedly frictionallyanchored between said spline chanNel structure and said spline memberthereby defining means firmly fastening said sheet plastic panel on saidstanchion element.
 8. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1wherein said flexible sheet means of the main section of said shieldassembly includes at least one thin flexible sheet panel and wherein themeans fastening said main section sheet panel to each vertical stanchionelement includes means extending out of the surface of the panel andcaptivated in said main section, primary and secondary lathlikestanchion sections arranged vertically on opposite sides of said thinflexible sheet panel and includes threaded fastener means interengagingsaid primary and secondary stanchion sections and clampingly securingsaid plastic sheet structure between said primary and secondarystanchion sections.
 9. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1wherein said horizontal stringer elements of the main section supportstructure of said shield assembly is generally of riblike configurationand is substantially integrally formed with the flexible sheet means ofsaid main section.
 10. Weather shield means as set forth in claim 1wherein the stay means of said base section includes generally rigidvertical stay elements extending transversely of said base section andwherein said means connecting said base and main sections includes jointmeans hingedly connecting each base section vertical stay element at itsupper portion with the lower terminal portion of a respective stanchionelement, and with the hinge axis extending parallel with and generallyalong the lower edge of said main section.
 11. Weather shield means asset forth in claim 10 wherein said flexible sheet means of said main andbase sections of said weather shield assembly are of integral form andwherein part of said flexible sheet means extending longitudinally andinterposedly between said base and main sections defines flexible jointmeans hingedly connecting the base and main sections together. 12.Weather shield means as set forth in claim 10 which additionallyincludes brace means for maintaining said main and base sections insubstantially fixed relative relation.
 13. Weather shield means as setforth in claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet means of said main and basesections are substantially of integral form and wherein said stay meansof said base section generally is in the form only of a plurality oflongitudinally extending horizontal stay elements.